In the Ning mansion.

Rare species of plants were full of the garden which was covered with vines, lush trees around exquisitely designed pavilions and corridors.

However, either the quiet yards in the depth of the garden or the luxurious thermal room, an air of sullenness and killing was pervasive in the silence.

“The eldest young lord is back in the mansion…”

The eldest young lord who had left for one year came back. Butler Ning ushered him in personally and the servants rushed around to tell each other the news. In an instant, everybody in the Ning mansion knew that Ning Shaoqing was back in this deep huge mansion.

Within a quarter, the servants automatically stood in two rows on sides to welcome respectfully the eldest young lord back.

At first, Xie thought she had a hallucination, but then as servants passed on the news, she was convinced that it was reality.

Smashing the pot of flower that she was watering directly, she then twisted her handkerchief and paced back and forth anxiously in the room. The group of servants all knelt on the floor, frightened.

When the handkerchief was almost torn, concubine Xie made up her mind, tidied up a little and walked out of door.

She was a concubine and must curtsy before Ning Shaoqing’s mother. For every reason, she must go out to welcome in person Ning Shaoqing, the eldest son in the family who had been out for long.

At that time, it was her who had given Ning Shaoqing the drug. But so what? He couldn’t have evidence. And no matter what, she was his stepmother. He couldn’t do anything to her.

Moreover, the status of both Ning Shaoqing and her were no longer the same as before.

The old guy who had been doting on Ning Shaoqing was dying. Ning Shaoqing had disappeared for a year, so the decision of selecting him as the future master of the family was invalid after he disappeared for a hundred days. There were many elders in the clan endorsing her son.

When she walked to the middle gate, Ning Shaoyu marched over in another direction. The two took a look at each other with sharp killing eyes, nodded and walked side by side.

When they looked up again, Ning Shaoqig had reached the middle gate.

“Qing is back… Why didn’t you sent a message first so that I could have waited for you at the front gate…” Concubine Xie was all smiles.

“Brother, you’re back…” Ning Shaoyu was all smiles too.

Smiles from muscles but not eyes.

Wasn’t it said that he died in the river? Why could he come back alive?

Ning Shaoqing seemed gentle but cold as ice. Seeing them, he only narrowed his eyes a bit and went on without looking back or talking. Till now, he had nothing to say to them.

Obviously only until this moment did the mother and son know that he was alive. How pathetic that they had little intelligence to such an extent! Recently, he had made so many moves in the capital, but they had no idea at all. Obviously, they already became useless chess pieces to others.

They were abandoned but never knew it!

They deserved that!

The mother and son, embarrassed by his reaction, hated but didn’t show it.

They sped to follow up, and Xie smiled pleasingly, “Where have you been, Qing? You haven’t come back for a year or sent any messages. I’ve been so worried. Do you know that your father even fell ill in bed because of you? …”

She was cursing that he wasn’t filial in a roundabout way!

What a huge sin if it was true!

Ning Shaoqing paused, the chill in his eyes replaced by graceful gentle pretty smile on his lips, “Please call me eldest lord in the future. I’ll take care of my father. Don’t bother to think about it, concubine Xie.” There was a smile on his face, but it wasn’t warm but aloof and warning.

Ning Shaoqing said politely with a smile, but concubine Xie was struck by lightning.

He was the son of a legal wife, naturally superior to a concubine. She could say nothing even if he called her so, something she hated most for her whole life….

Finishing that, Ning Shaoqing went away. Now, these two people wouldn’t affect him feelings anymore in the slightest.

Concubine Xie stood still.

Concubine Xie? He should call her that! Although he had never called her mother, he treated her with respect. Now, not only the attitude was changed, but also the addressing term! If he decided to tear up the face, then she wouldn’t continue to pretend anymore.

She never expected that he would come back alive or to really face this day. Where were those people ambushing outside the city? Where were those hitmen in Yunqi town? Were they dead? And that man also promised her…

She felt vacancy and scare in her heart which then all condensed into murderousness shooting to the back walking away. Then, glancing at Ning Shaoyu, she walked away in resentment.

Ning Shaoyu hesitated for a while and decided to follow Ning Shaoqing. He couldn’t act like a stupid woman who cared about face, if he really wanted to attain the position.

When he didn’t know it, Ning Shaoqing was able to return alive. It meant that he had lost the initiative already, so now he couldn’t stick around with the useless woman anymore. It was more important to fix the relation with his brother.

“The eldest lord is back in the mansion… The master is holding an urgent meeting now. He has something important to announce…”

In the mansion, the clan elders inside and outside were summoned by the master at the same time.

On the order, they all set off for the ancestral hall…

**

The Peach Blossom Party was going lively.

The music was on, and Junzhu Susu began dancing, arms in long sleeves stretching out like flapping wings, bright and beautiful just like her.

Then, in light steps, she tiptoed and leaped up. After rounds of swirling in the air, she landed on the ground steadily, upon which moment, her both legs flicked into a line, orderly, gracefully in delicate poises.

Mo Qianxue praised in secret. Even in modern times, there wasn’t a great classical dancer.

The dance was combined with lightness kungfu. No wonder those ladies had been so disappointed hearing Junzhu Susu would be the first to dance.

At the end of it, other ladies smiled and gently praised, but Mo Qianxue applauded hard. Susu raised her head and smiled back, when Princess Yuhe seemed to have just discovered Mo Qianxue, inquiring gently, “This lady is…?”

Mo Qianxue got up and replied, “I’m Mo Qianxue, daughter of the Founder.”

Princess Yuhe nodded, “I see. No wonder you’re not punctilious. I’ve heard about you in the palace. I heard that even father appreciated your behavior.”

Mo Qianxue thought to herself. The Emperor had hit her and threatened to kill her. In the end, hadn’t it been her eloquence and clear-mind and volunteering for punishment of yearly allowance and grounding, as well as a reason for him to reshuffle the power in the capital, the consequences would have been hard to imagine.

Was there such kind of appreciation in the world?

However, despite the life-and-death moment, she knew that others would think the same as she did.

Others believed that she had killed a dozen people on the street and that the Emperor was so kind that he just punished her superficially. His forgiveness represented grand imperial graciousness.

At this moment—

She knew better that Princess Yuhe wouldn’t be so kind as to speak for her and treat her with friendliness in public. This was obviously her trick: to praise her on the surface, and to make enemies for her as a matter of fact, a dagger in the dark.

As she expected, when she took a quick glance around, she saw jealousy in the eyes of those stupid ladies, especially that Wengzhu YuanAi. The flaming green eyes could ignite a ten-mile river.

Mo Qianxue pretended to be scared and replied, lowering her head, “You’re flattering me, Princess. At that time, I was just too scared that the riots would come to rob me, so I had no choice but to defend myself. My guards didn’t control the situation well and accidently… I believe every lady here would deal with it better than me.”

Hearing this, the jealousy on the ladies’ faces faded a little and showed approval.

Princess Yuhe didn’t give up and smiled lightly, “Miss. Mo acted decisively. I didn’t expect you’re such a modest person. I should really learn from you. Allow me to make a toast to you.”

Learn from her? Make a toast to her? Why? The ladies’ eyes on her turned into blades.

The sweeter the words were, the more poisonous they were in fact! The friendlier she was now, the more benevolent she would appear later when Mo Qianxue made a mistake and she had to punish her for justice.

Mo Qianxue picked up the cup hesitantly, “I don’t dare to accept your praise. I’d like to use tea as wine to drink three cups first…” Under such special flavor, Mo Qianxue remained humble and didn’t displayed any smug. The ladies’ eye blades were lifted. Some of them even looked her with kindness.

Junzhu Susu seemed to have figured out the trick. She got up and joked, “Princess, it’s not early now. The ladies are waiting to see talent shows. If you continue to praise Miss. Mo, they will be unhappy. I’ll be mad too…”

“In addition, the competition had four items in the past, but now seven. The party will end at 7 o’clock in the afternoon. We should hurry up.”

Princess Yuhe smiled softly and a little apologetic, “Thanks for reminding me. I was just curious about Miss. Mo and asked a few questions.”

She turned back, looking solemn, and said loudly, “Junzhu Susu took the lead and stunned us with her excellent dance. Hence, shall we make the first Pendant a Dance Pendant? Every great dancer may give a shot.”

It sounded like a question, but the tone was decisive.

Mo Qianxue drank three cups of tea and sat down, trying to be as invisible as possible.

One lady in yellowish dress in another pavilion stood up, “Princess, I’d like to give a try.”

Seeing the lithe and graceful figure, Princess Yuhe nodded, “Yes, please!”

The music was on…

The yellow dress swung lightly, as her two soft hands spun around with her swinging slender waist and raising slim legs. Every movement was beautiful and continuous right to the point.

It was really amazing that she gave full play to the unique beauty of her body in the wonderful dance.

Mo Qianxue appreciated the dance while warning herself that she shouldn’t look down upon these ancient noble ladies.